Two washing machines

[Mark Hewitt]

Not that er-indoors would like the idea.. but since our dryer has broken we now have a space where we could put a second washing machine if we wanted.

It's a slightly complex issue to do with dust allergies but suffice to say I do a *lot* of washing and so having two machines would be a great advantage.

My question is, it is possible or practical to have two machines side by side? Can they be somehow both be fed of the same hot and cold water feed? How would the drainage be arranged? I know that our water system wouldn't be able to cope with both machines running at once but our existing one has a delay start function so one could be set to start just after the other finishes.

[nightjar]

Why not simply get a bigger washing machine? My LG washing machine fits in the same space as the previous machine, but takes about twice the load.

Otherwise, it is a fairly simple bit of plumbing to add extra taps to run a second machine and, if you are not running both at once, you can use the same drain upstand. Mind you, unless you are running the machines at night, to use off-peak electricity, I don't see the advantage of running one machine at a time, as compared to unloading one and running it a second time.

Colin Bignell

[Mark Hewitt]

"nightjar .uk.com>"

Well that's certainly an option, but then maybe I can get an LG washing machine and have twice the load plus the existing load :o)

It's not about off peak electricity. It's bascially about being able to load the machines up, go off to work, or off to bed, and then get then washing out later. If I was around all the time to put washing in and out then it wouldn't really be an issue.

[bigcat]

of course.

of course. Get a Y piece (screwfix 40p) and a 2nd washing machine hose so you can supply both machines off one supply point. Repeat for the hot supply if the machines use hot as well.

What do you think?

how do you know that? I cant think of any way that could be true. Is this for real? I guess it is

NT

[Dave Plowman (News)]

The normal kitchen drain plumbing should cope with two washing machine wastes given that it will cope with a washing machine, dishwasher and sink all draining at once. Although this should be uncommon anyway.

Well, modern machines are usually cold fill, and if your supply couldn't deliver enough to fill them at full speed, they'd simply wait until it reached the correct level.

[Mark Hewitt]

All I know is that I can't fill my bath so quickly when the washing machine is on.. but maybe it would be fine. I don't know :-)

[Doctor Evil]

Two machines is better as you have redundancy and the wash is done quicker as two machines can do two differing coloured loads.

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[Dave Plowman (News)]

Fed, of course, by two combis.

[Doctor Evil]

Good thinking at last. How many years has it taken for you to come up with a good idea?

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[John Rumm]

It would work fine, even if it took longer to fill with both going at once.

[dmc]

Funny you should say this...

I discovered yesterday that when our washing machine pumps out at the same time as the dishwasher *and* I have a tap running it overflows the standpipe from the washing machine :-(

Current setup is 2 washing machine traps - one for each of the appliances

) and then a normal trap under the sink. The drain then runs through the wall and into the concrete slab under the conservatory :-(

Its a bit sludged up but nothing major - certainly nothing suggesting that it is seriously bunged up anywhere so I can only assume that our new(ish) Miele washing machine and dishwasher has a much more powerful pump than the knackered hoover models that they replaced...

Suggestions? Would a couple of self cutting washing machine thingys

) help by restricting the output from the machine maybe? Or are they not restrictive at all (never actually seen one to examine...)

I guess it must be time for us to have another Caustic Soda thread so maybe I'll try some of that :)

Darren

[Lurch]

On Thu, 03 Feb 2005 09:46:22 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)" strung together this:

Well, probably not. For 2 large volume appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers etc... you really want 2" wastes in all the common runs otherwise you can end up with a wet floor if both machines pump out at once. Most reasonably installed wastes will be 1.5" and could even be 1.25" depending on how [un]well it was installed.

[Bob Eager]

I guess if they both demanded water at once, they'd fill a bit slower - who cares?

If they both wanted to heat water at the same time...is the power wiring up to it? Probably yes, if you have a tumble dryer that WON'T be running, but not a very good way to leave it....

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I've not got problems with mine, but of course it will depend on the output delivery of the machines. Or is there a standard?

[Lurch]

On Thu, 03 Feb 2005 23:45:31 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)" strung together this:

Although I haven't read the various byelaws and wot-not first hand as I'm not a plumber by trade that's what I've always done as my Dad, (who is a CORGI registered plumbing and heating engineer of some 30 odd years), fed me the information a couple of years ago. It always seemed to make sense to me so that's what I did.

As a rule of thumb anything high output shouldn't really have much more than itself and one other 'normal' waste connected to it if you're doing the job properly. As you say, it depends on the exact application. I suppose it's along the same lines as the current

1.5mm\2.5mm for ring circuits debate.